•Mwilu urged the magistrates and judges to be friendly to the children and make the court environment comfortable for them to ensure they are not intimidated.
•She said the judiciary has made efforts to have the children's matters heard separately from the adults.
Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu has asked judicial officers dealing with children's matters to dispose of them within six months.
Mwilu said it was a pity that some cases where children are the suspects take longer than the six months as required by the law.
In some cases, she said, the children are detained longer than 24 hours and have their rights violated.
The deputy chief justice spoke on Monday during a town hall meeting with schools, held to commemorate the International Day of the African Child.
High Court judge Teresia Matheka said that in most cases, the judicial officers dealing with the cases do not know the children were being detained.
“Sometimes when officers are asked about the whereabouts of the children in court, they tell you the children are coming or find another excuse,” she said.
Fielding questions from the school children, Matheka cited the failure of witnesses to turn up, and the children involved falling sick among other technicalities as reasons why the cases were prolonged.
Mwilu said the Judiciary had no excuse and passing blame to any other actor and that it was incumbent on them to serve the children within the law.
“We don't give excuses. Children cases are to take six months,” she said.
“If within three months those cases are not concluded, then the certain category of those cases should be dismissed right there.”
Mwilu urged the magistrates and judges to be friendly to the children and make the court environment comfortable for them to ensure they are not intimidated.
“Judiciary will be more involved in court users committees on children matters to ensure that justice is dispensed in a timely manner,” she said.
Mwilu said the judiciary has made efforts to have the children's matters heard separately from the adults.
She said the institution has installed tents for holding children during such cases to ensure that they do not get in contact with adults involved in the matters.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris